Mountaineer Wrestlers Defeat Virginia, 44-3

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Jan. 26, 2002

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 12th-ranked West Virginia University wrestling team (5-2) upended Virginia (1-5) 44-3 Friday night at the Coliseum.

Senior Ryan Kehler started off the match for the Mountaineers by pinning Josh Etu in 1:18. It was Kehler’s third pin in as many matches and is now second all-time in pins at WVU.

After consecutive forfeits at 125 and 133 by Virginia, junior Shane Cunanan needed only 2:52 seconds to pin Steve Keheler to give the Mountaineers a 24-0 lead. It was Cunanan’s team-leading sixth pin and third in as many matches. Billy Smith then added a 10-2 major decision over Paul Dunstan at 149 to push the lead to 28-0.

The Cavaliers got their first and only points of the night at 157 when Tim Foley upset ninth-ranked Joe Carr, 12-9. Carr scored two takedowns in the final :30 but Foley was able to hold on for the win.

Ryan Wilman rode Jimi Massey for the entire second period and scored an escape early in the third for the 2-0 win at 184. Tom McMath (165) added a decision and Brent Miller scored a major decision to help lead the Mountaineers.WVU’s 44 points were the most scored since February 5, 1998, when WVU blanked Cleveland State 48-0.

“I’m pleased from the standpoint that we were disciplined in approaching each match with intensity,” coach Craig Turnbull said. “We tried to stay focused and use the entire match to score points.”

West Virginia 44, Virginia 3
HWT – Ryan Kehler (W) pinned Josh Etu (V), 1:18 6-0
125 – Nathan Kendjorsky (W) won by forfeit 12-0
133 – Brandon Lauer (W) won by forfeit 18-0
141- #17 Shane Cunanan (W) pinnd Steve Keheler (V), 2:52, 24-0
149 – #20 Billy Smith (W) maj dec. Paul Dunstan (V), 10-2, 28-0
157 – Tim Foley (V) dec. #9 Joe Carr (W), 12-9, 28-3
165 – #6 Tom McMath (W) dec. Will Durkee (V), 10-3, 31-3
174 – #3 Greg Jones (W) inj.def. Brian Muir (V) 37-3
184 – Ryan Wilman (W) dec. Jimi Massey (V), 2-0, 40-3
197 – Brent Miller (W) maj. dec. Andrew DeMartino (V), 12-4, 44-3